Digging adjustment for ditching plow and conveyer combination



23,, 1954 c. BLCCKEH 2,672,701 DIGGING ADJUSTMENT FOR DITCHING PLOW AND CONVEYER COMBINATION Filed July 16, 1947 6 Sheets-Sheet l IN VENTOR.

ATTORNEYS DIGGING A PLOW AND C Filed July 16 194'? arch 23, 1954 c, BLOCKER 2,672,701 DIGGING ADJUSTMENT FOR DITCHING PLOW AND CONVEYER COMBINATION Filed July 16, 1947 6 Sheets-Sheet 3' H "H H :I I u 12:29;

INVEN TOR.

CQIZBZOCZPI;

ArruRNEY March 23, 1954 c. BLOCKER 2,672,701 DIGGING ADJUSTMENT FOR DITCHING PLOW AND CONVEYER COMBINATION Filed July 16, 1947 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 9 7 y INVENTOR. Ca ZfiZmfkefi,

ATI'D R N EYE March 23, 1954 LOCKER 2, 2,701

C. B DIGGING ADJUSTMENT FOR DITCHING PLOW AND CONVEYER COMBINATION Filed July 16, 1947 I 6 Sheets-Sheet 5;

a m S A 2,

INVENT OR.

ATTD R N EYE March 23, 1954 c. BLOCKER 2,672,701

DIGGING ADJUSTMENT FOR DITCHING PLOW AND CONVEYER COMBINATION 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed July 16, 1947 I N VEN TOR. Bloc/Z29 .Cal"

ATI'D R N EYB Patented Mar. 23, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DIGGING ADJUSTME PLOW AND CONVEY NT FOR DI'ICHING ER COMBINATION 2 Claims.

This invention relates to a ditch digger particularly adapted for digging ditches into which tile may be disposed.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a tile ditch digger which is adapted to be mounted upon the rear of a tractor so as to be adjustable between positions of transport and work or ground travel and which, in the ground engaging position, will cause the dirt to be elevated to a transversely extending conveyor, whereby the dirt will be deposited on both sides of the ditch or may be deposited on only one side of the same, and wherein the operable devices of the tractor can be utilized for operating the ditch digger as for instance to lift the same and to operate the conveyors.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a tractor mounted tile ditch digger which is of simple construction, inexpensiv to manuiacture, and efiicient in operation.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to th following detailed construction taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the ditch digger mounted on a tractor and elevated to a raised position,

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view wherein the ditch digger has been extended to its lowered position wherein dirt will be elevated and discharged to the sides of the ditch,

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of a ditch digger,

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of one of the side delivery conveyors,

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional 6-6 of Fig. 5,

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken through the side delivery conveyor with the same adjusted upon its support to deliver the dirt at the opposite side from which it would deliver the dirt when arranged as in Fig. 3,

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a clamp device for connecting a brace to the upper end of the elevating conveyor,

Fig. 9 is a similar view to that shown in Fig. 8 wherein the clamp is about to release its connection with the pin projection on the upper end of the conveyor,

Fig. 10 is a top plan view of the rear end of a tractor, or fragmental portion thereof,- and showing the power take-off attachment,

Fig. 11 is a rear elevational view of a portion of the rear axle housing of the tractor and lockview taken on line connection with the rear 2 ing upon the power take-oil, the view taken on line ll-H of Fig. 10,

Fig. 12 is a front elevational view of the ditch digger with portions broken away to show the connections of the parallel lifting links which attach the digger to the rear of the tractor,

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary and cross-sectional view of the upper end of the ditch digger utilizing a modified form of side delivery conveyor in the nature of a chute which will deliver the dirt to both sides of the ditch,

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary top plan view of the arrangement shown in Fig. 13,

Fig. 15 is a cross-sectional view of the double chute taken on line l5--l 5 of Fig. 13,

Fig. 16 is a side elevational view of a modified form of ditch digger wherein a different drive mechanism is utilized for connecting the conveyor drives with the power take-off of the tractor,

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Fig. 16 taken on the longitudinal center of the lower end of the ditch digger and showing in full the feed wheel,

Fig. 18 is a top plan view of a fragment of the rear axle housing and of the power take-01f device for the chain drive of Fig. 16.

Referring now to the figures, 2! represents a tractor having an operators station 22. On the rear end of this tractor is a power take-01f attachment 23 adapted to be operated from the tractor. At the top of the rear axle housing are power lifting arms 25 which are connected by lifting rods 25 with links 2'! used for coupling the ditch digger as indicated generally at 28 to the rear of the tractor. The links 21 are pivoted upon the tractor as indicated at 29. Above the links 21 is a parallel link 3| which is pivoted upon the tractor through a power control device 32. The rear ends of the links 27 and 3! are connected to a vertically-extending beam formed of two parts both of which are indicated by the numeral 33 to the lower ends of which is connected a plow or digging shovel 34. This shovel includes a. main part 35 and a shovel point or plow 36, Fig. 2, and is pivotally connected with the lower ends of the beams 33 as indicated at 31. The entrance angle of the point 36 can be controlled by a rod 38 extending through a bracket 39 fixed between the beams 33. An adjusting nut 41 is disposed on the rod 38 and serves as a stop to limit the upward movement of the shovel point 36. A. bifurcated portion 42 is provided on the rod 3 8 and extends about conveyor 43 for end of main part 3i5 as indicated at 44.

As seen more clearly in Fig. 12, the connections of th links 2! and 3| to the beams 33 are eifected through transversely extending shafts 45 and 46. The shaft 45 is retained against axial displacement within the beam parts 33 by collars 41. The links are made secure on the ends of the shaft by cotter pins 48.

Spacer sleeves A9 are provided on shaft 46 to hold the beam parts the proper spaced relationship relative to one another at the upper ends. The single link it is disposed between the sleeves ts. Extending rearwardly from the outer ends of the shaft it are rearward-1y extending links i. As viewed in Figs. 8 and 9 the rear ends of these links 5! have means whereby the links can be releasably connected to a drive shaft 52 on the upper end of a supporting frame 53 for the conveyor it. On each link 5! there is provided a catch or arm t l, shaped to be extended about the shaft 52 and pivoted at the end of the links 51' as: indicated at This member at is retained in locked position over the shaft 52 by aspring catch extending through the link 5+ and urged downwar toward the member {it by aspring 5-? reactl' 7 upon a nut on the catch shank- Uponccznpressing the spring 5! the member be released so as to be swung man open position as shown in 9 whereby to release the supporting frame and permit the conveyors to be lowered to a ground position whereby the same will be more accessible to berepaired.

The transverse drive shaft S t and 63' uponits opposite ends. On thi shaft 52 is a driving pulley for the conveyor The lower end of this conveyor is supported upon an idler pulley 65. A housing be is pivoted on shaft 52 and supports the upper end or a telescopic drive shaft t l and a driving gear 63 meshing with the gear 22. The lower end of the shaft 65's is coupled by a, universal joint 6?) with the power take-off device 23 on the tractor. The angle of shaft it? may change as the digger is adjusted.

Extendng rearwardly from the upper end of frame 531's a bracket H with a guide formation '52 therein in which a slide it can be laterally adjusted. The slide is formed on a frame it which supports a transversely extending conveyor belt "it depending upon the side to which it is extended. A back plate is preventsthe' dirt from falling back into the ditch. Extending rearwardly through the bracket ii is a shaft it having a bevel gear it thereon meshing gear 53' of the shaft 52.

The conveyor '15 is extended between two pulleys 8 1 and t2. Extending from these pulleys are sprockets 83' and 2 respectively over which are extended chain links 85. Shaft it has a gear 85 meshing with a gear ill. Shaft 18' also has a sprocket 88 for driving the chain 35 in one direction. The gear it? is' connected to a sprocket 89 and will drive the chain lit in the opposite direction. When the conveyor i5 is extended to one side of the ditch, one sprocket is used for driving the conveyor Whereas when the same is extended to the opposite side of the ditch as illustrated in dotted lines the other sprocket is used to drive the conveyor in the proper direction.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 13, i4 and 15; a chute 95 is provided and has a slide 92 adapted to be connected into the formation 12 on the bracket H. The chute is raised at the 52 has bevel gears for delivering dirt to the side of the ditch with the bevel i center as indicated at 93 and has its sides extendin downwardly in opposite directions to deposit dirt at the opposite sides of the ditch. Inasmuch as the conveyor 35 can be easily and simply removed from the bracket ll, little difficulty is had in mounting the chute ii! on the bracket H instead of the belt conveyor 75. When the chute is used, there is no need for the driving connections. Extending along the sides of conveyor are shields to prevent the dirt from leaving the sides thereof. On the chute 9! there is a shield extension as which will be braced by links 9i connecting the same with the upper ends of theshield 95'.

Referring now to Figs. 16, 1'7 and 18, there is shown amodified form of drive for the conveyors. Instead of. having a shaft 8?, a power take-off i provided which has a sprocket It! extending to one side of a power take-off housing I02. On shaft 52 there is provided a sprocket I03. A chain ltd is extended between the sprockets NH and laid. A chaintightening sprocket IE5 is extended downwardly from the upper end of beam 33' by a tension spring Edi} which draws the chain upwardly. The sprocket W5 is journalled; on the upper end of an arm ISM pivoted upon the rod 4 5.

A feed wheel i i 8 is j'ournalled on the lower end of a lever H l pivoted as indicated at H2 to the beams wheel is located over the shovel tea, which has a main part 35a and the wheel is urged downwardly by a tension spring H3 connected between the rear end of the lever Ill and a bracket i it on the beams 33.

While various changes may be made inthe detailed construction it shall be understood that such changes shall b within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim: 7 g

1. In a ditch digger structure, the combination which comprises a pair of spaced vertically disposed parallel beams, a transversely disposed shaft extended through the lower ends of the beams, a shovel, substantially semi circular shaped in cross section having upwardly extended side walls and having a plow carried by the forward end positioned over the lower ends of the beams and pivotally mounted through the said upwardly extended side walls on the ends of the said shaft, a bracket mounted in and connecting the said beams, a supporting rod adjustably connecting the rear end of the shovel to the said bracket for adjusting the position of the said plow, an inclined conveyor mounted on the said transverse shaft and extended rearwar'dly from the said beams, links connecting the extended end of the conveyor to the upper ends oi the said vertically disposed beams, means mounting the said vertically disposed beams on a tractor, means mounted on the tractor and connected to said vertically disposed beams" for raising and lowering said vertically disposed beams for adjusting the elevation of the shovel and plow, and means driving the said conveyor from a tractor upon which the beams are mounted.

2. In a ditch digger structure, the combination which comprises a pair of spaced vertically disposed parallel beams, a transversely disposed shaft extended through the lower ends of the beams, a shovel, substantially semi circular shaped in cross section having upwardly extended side walls and: having a plow carried by the forward end positioned over the lower ends of the beams and pivotally mountedthrough the said upwardly extended side walls on the ends of the said shaft, a bracket mounted in and connecting the said beams,.a supporting rod adjustably connecting the rear end of the shovel to th said bracket for adjusting the position of the said plow, a substantially horizontally disposed lever positioned between the vertically disposed beams and pivotall mounted in said beams, a feed Wheel having arcuate outwardly extended teeth journaled in one end of said lever and positioned over said shovel, and a spring connecting the opposite end of the said lever to the upper part of one of the said vertically disposed beams, an inclined conveyor mounted on the said transverse shaft and extended rearwardly from the said beams, links connecting the extended end of the conveyor to the upper ends of the said vertically disposed beams, means mounting the said vertically disposed beams on a tractor, means mounted on the tractor and connected to said vertically disposed beams for raising and lowering said vertically disposed beams for adjusting the elevation of the shovel and plow, and means driving the said conveyor from a tractor upon which the beams are mounted.

CARL BLOCKER. References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 198,983 Humphreys Jan. 8, 1878 312,049 Welch Feb. 10, 1885 871,011 Warne Nov. 12,1907 1,182,779 Lee May 9, 1916 1,229,116 Metzler et al. June 5, 1917 1,988,254 Smith Jan. 15, 1935 2,295,850 King Sept. 15, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 377,954 Germany June 30, 1923 

